Manually-operated boat



Apr. 17, 19 23.

J. K. MILTON MANUALLY OPERATED BOAT Original Fil ed Aug.

id QY //Vl//V7'0/P JOHN M ML TON,

By W

Patented Apr. 1?, 1923.

eater ome JOHN K. MILTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MANUALLY-OPER'ATED BOAT.

Application filed August 11, 1920, Serial No. 4.02,?84. Renewed. November 18, 1922.

Y '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JonN K. MILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVlanually-Operated Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propelling means for small boats, and more particularly to a propelling means consisting of a manuallyoperated screw-propeller.

The invention has for its object to provide a very simple and efficient operating means, and also one which is so constructed and arranged that it can be readily attached to any small watercraft, such as a row boat or the like.

The object stated is attained by means of a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, showing its application; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33,of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes a screw-propeller of conventional design fitted to a short horizontal shaft 6 which is geared to the lower end of a vertically positioned drive shaft 7 by a bevel gearing 8. On the upper end of drive shaft 7 is a pinion 9 which is in mesh with a spur gear 10 supported on a stub shaft 10 From one side of the gear 10 extends a crank pin 11 which seats in the slot 12 of a cross head 13 on a reciprocatory bar 1 1, these parts constituting an ordinary crank and slotted cross-head mechanism, the reciprocatory motion of the bar 1 1, through the slot 12 and the crank pin 11 resulting in a rotary motion of the gear 10., The crosshead 13 has a rearward extension 15 provided with a longitudinal guide slot 16 through which the shaft 7 passes. The motion of gear 10 is transmitted to shaft 7 through the pinion 9, and the shaft 7 transniits motion to the propeller shaft 6 through. the bevel gearing 8.

To the bar 14 is connected a lever 17 for operating the same, and this lever is connected by a link 18 to a hand lever 19. The operation of the hand lever 19, through link 18, lever 17 and bar 1 1, actuates the cross head 13, whereby motion is transmitted to the propeller 5 through the gearing as hereinbei'ore described.

On the upper end of the shaft 7 is a flywheel 20 which has a convex top surface and a concave or dished bottom surface.

At 21 is shown a base plate which supports the drive gearing hereinbefore described. From the bottom of this plate extends a tube 22 in which the shaft 7 is housed, the tube having suitable bearings for said shaft. At its lower end, the tube 22 carries a housing 23 for the gears 8, said housing being also constructed to serve as a bearing for the propeller shaft 6. The plate 21-carries a depending rudder post 24: supporting a rudder 25.

The base plate 21 also carries a housing 26 enclosing the cross head 13 and the gears 9 and 10, and carrying the shaft 10 The housing 26 has a side opening 27 through which the bar 1 1 extends, and it is also formed with a depending flange or arm 28 belowthis opening, to which the lever 17 is fulcrumed, as shown at 29. Diametrically opposite the opening 27, the housing 26 has side opening 30 through which the extension 15 of the cross-head 13 protrudes. The flywheel 20 is located above this portion of the housing 26, and projects beyond the same to serve as a projecting hood for the protruding portion of the mechanism.

The base plate 21 supporting the entire mechanism is adapted to be fastened to the stern of the boat as shown in Fig. 1, so as to properly position the propeller 5 and the rudder 25 astern of the boat. The hand lever 19 is positioned amidships, it being fulcrumed, as shown at 31, on one of the seats 32 of the boat.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the propelling mechanism is a portable unit which; can be easily fitted to any small boat, or removed therefrom. While the device has been shown and described as manually operated, it will be obvious that a suitable power means may be used with the same without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A boat propelling means comprising a portable base plate having means for attachment to a boat, a propeller shaft, a vertical drive shaft geared to the propeller shaft, a pinion on the drive shaft, a spur gear in mesh with the pinion, driving-means for the spur gear, a housing carried by the base plate and enclosing the spur gear and the pinion, said housin also supporting the spur gear, and a tubular housing and sup port for the drive shaft carried by the base plate, said housing also having an enclosure for the gearing between the propeller shaft and the drive shaft, and a support for the propeller shaft.

2. A boat-propelling means comprising a portable base plate having means for attachment to a boat, a propeller shaft, a vertical drive shaft geared to the propeller shaft, a pinion on the drive shaft, a spur 15 spur gear, a flywheel on the drive shaft 20 above the housing, and a tubular housing and support for the drive shaft carried by the base plate, said housing also having an enclosure for the gearing between the propeller shaft and the drive shaft, and a sup- 25 port for the propeller shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN K. MILTON. 

